San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1887-07-21
southern CalIfornia..-The Shady sid'


Having published good many
rose-colored versions OF Southern
California, we print something from
the other side from a well known
intelligent and reliable citizen OF this
county. We do not mean to ques-
ton the truth of former letters on
the subject published by us, but
probably the following is needed to
complete the picture. We copy from
the Kyle Times.-Ep. FREE Pass;
Los ANGELES, CAL, June "a, 81.
Dear Sir:-My first note to you on
Ily contained city information, but l
am prepared at this writing to give
an outline of the rural. The country
does not at all compare with the
cities. Mr.. Ward, of your city, Mr..
Dickey, Mr.. Mayne and myself
bought q travelling outfit at San
Diego, to travel through the country,
that we might have opportunities OF
visiting the fruit and gram farms and
talking with the fruit'growers and
hay-raisers as to the value of their
products. Some would exaggerate,
others would be more liberal, as we
thought, in giving us all asked for
information respecting the true value
of lands and an annual income realiz-
ed per acre on fruits, hay and potato
crops, and am satisfied that this
country is overrated and has been
doomed up by the real estate agents
Land sharks are three in hill, and
tell you they gobble up many little
silver. side minnows from the East
We left San Diego going south to the
line of Lower California, thence in
semi-circle from 20 to 80 miles
Around San Diego the valleys are few
narrow and scarce; rarely ever sec
any running water think L an
safe in saying ninetenths of the lane
with n 20 or 80 miles of San Diego is
almost worthless, save for the wilc
oats that grow upon many OF the
mountains und mesa lands. Leav
ing the vicinity of San Diego, We
crossed in the direction of Santf
Anna. For about 100 miles the
country was pretty much the same as
that around San Diego. Up hill anc
down hill, over mountains and across
narrow valleys and beds of rivers ant
creeks; but we find the bottom side
of the rivers up--all dry, some dusty
while Others you can get water BY
digging hole in the sand. Our tril
from this camp to Santa Anna ant
thence to Los Angeles was rleasan
one, travelling over beautiful coun
try. Santa Anna is situated in {
lovely valley, and in the immediate
vicinity the soil and climate seen
eminently adapted to fruit growing
in which the Californians lavish mucl
pride, each one using all skill an(
effort, regardless of cost, to excel hi
neighbor. Some do quite well, but
cannot see how one-fourth of the peo
pie realize living from what SCI
growing around them. This is Ger
tainly the finest climate in the world
but people cannot live upon climate
alone. One of our company asked
Mr.. OFT, brother of Prof. OFT, former
Ilv of KYLE, what was their best croI
in California He answered, "th'
yankee crop" 1 think he struck tht
keynote. These gilt-edged follows
from the North and East scatter
their money to the right and left
The real estate monsters, OF money
extractors, gobble up fellows cash
before he can mature second
thought. 1t may be L should moi
speak so freely; nevertheless it is my
opinion, based upon observation. 1t il
my opinion that Hays county, Texas
is as healthy as any county in Cali
fornia. True there is a great differ
ence in the uniformity of climate
Texas has her northers and California
her fogs-the one is about as bad ms
the other. These lines are hastily
written use part or all of them if you
see proper. / would advise all who
are well situated in Texas to hang
mp their hats and be satisfied.
Yours truly,
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